Falcons make Robinson highest-paid running back in NFL history

Bijan Robinson has agreed a three-year contract extension that will keep him with the Atlanta Falcons through to the 2030 NFL season; the $51m (£37m) guaranteed in the deal is the highest figure received by a running back in NFL history

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>The Atlanta Falcons have agreed to a three-year contract extension with Bijan Robinson that will make him the highest-paid running back in NFL history.

>According to Spotrac.com, the extension, which runs through to the 2030 season, is worth up to $75m (£55m), with the $51m (£37m) guaranteed portion a record for a running back.

>Robinson will need to achieve multiple incentives to earn the full $75m (£55m), but even without doing that, the base level three-year $66.75m (£49.6m) deal will give the 24-year-old highest annual salary an NFL running back has ever earnt.

>The $22.25m (£16.5m) per year takes him past the previous high mark of $20.6m (£15.3m) being earnt by Saquon Barkley at the Philadelphia Eagles.

>Robinson reposted the NFL's Instagram post detailing the extension on Tuesday morning, writing "God this is for you! Blessings. Love this team and this city!"

>.@Bijan5Robinson is now the highest-paid RB in the league:

1. Bijan Robinson: $22.25M per year 2. Saquon Barkley: $20.6M per year 3. Christian McCaffrey: $19M per year 4. De’Von Achane: $16M per year 5. Derrick Henry: $15M per year pic.twitter.com/dgBmFwBR3f

>NFL Network and ESPN first reported the extension. Robinson's agent, Nicole Lynn of Klutch Sports, posted on X on Tuesday morning, "Anyone have a brinks truck?"

>The deal with Robinson continued the Falcons' trend of locking up foundation players on their offense.

>On Saturday, the Falcons announced signing left guard Matthew Bergeron to a four-year contract extension. The team gave new contracts to wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts during the offseason.

>The new deal comes after Robinson spent the first week of training camp, including Monday's first day in pads, as a spectator.

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>He attended the practices but did not participate in an apparent contract "hold-in" as he sought a new deal ahead of the start of the NFL regular season on September 10.

>A panel of eight AP Pro Football Writers ranked Robinson the league's top running back in a pre-season poll. Robinson led the NFL with 2,298 yards from scrimmage and scored 11 TDs last season.

>Robinson has been the focus of Atlanta's productive ground game since he was the No 8 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. He flourished as a dual-threat back last season, finishing fourth in the league with 1,478 rushing yards while adding 820 receiving yards.

>Steven Jackson in 2006 is the only other player ever with at least 1,400 rushing yards and 800 receiving yards in the same season.